NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
30 January 2005

CITY & ACORN TEAM-UP TO PROVIDE FREE TAX PREPARATION AND FILING SERVICES; RESIDENTS URGED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT PROGRAM

Mayor Stephen R. Reed and Harrisburg Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now(ACORN) local head organizer Ben Hanna today announced that ACORN will again be providing free tax preparation and filing services for midstate residents beginning January 30, at their new offices at 14 S. 13th Street.

The Mayor also encouraged city residents to take advantage of the special Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC) Program, which directly benefits low and moderate income taxpayers. Many city residents are eligible for the individual federal and a similar state program that returns thousands of dollars to the taxpayer. The income based tax credit programs significantly reduce the annual federal and state payroll tax deductions for the working poor, allowing for substantially increased weekly take-home pay and in many cases, substantial end-of- year refunds. The payments are even available to working persons who have paid little or no federal and state income taxes.

Reed said the special service being provided by ACORN is made possible in part by a $25,000 grant from the City of Harrisburg. 647 city residents were served last year, with over $600,000 in refunds realized, including over $290,000 in EITC refunds.

“This is money in our residents’ pockets than can be used to pay off bills, purchase new goods and services, buy a car or home, or otherwise be put to good use,” said the Mayor.

The Mayor said the ACORN tax preparation program first began last year in 45 locations around the country, and was considered successful. The program involves the free provision of tax preparation and filing services by ACORN staff and volunteers.

The ACORN tax preparation service is available Mondays through Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Citizens requesting service are asked to bring along a picture i.d., social security card, dates of birth, W- 2 forms, 1099-G forms if unemployment compensation was paid last year, as well as documentation for childcare, healthcare and other expenses. Call ACORN at (717) 233.0133 for additional information.

For questions about the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit program, call the IRS toll-free number at 1-800-829-1040 or visit www.irs.gov. For the state tax forgiveness program, call 1-888-PATAXES, or visit www.revenue.state.pa.us.